Gene Wolfe, Soldier of the Mist
Gene Wolfe, Soldier of Arete
These books purport to be translations of scrolls dating from approximately 479 BC. Latro, a soldier ("latro" is a Greek word meaning "mercenary" and probably not his original name) has been hit on the head during a battle (in which he fought for the Great King[1] against the Greeks), and can no longer remember anything for more than about twelve hours. In an effort to stave off the inevitable confusion, he writes down where he's been and what he's done. The tricky part is that Latro is a non-native Greek speaker, so he translates place names into their nearest equivalent. He speaks a great deal about the city-state of "Thought[2]," for instance, and late in the first book visits the "Hot Gates" (recently featured in the classic Frank Miller music video "It's Raining 300 Men"). So, half the fun is playing "What the devil is Latro talking about now?"
The other half, of course, is the story. Latro's bonk on the head has taken away his memory, but given him the ability to see the gods and other spirits. This is sometimes helpful, as when Theseus gives him advice during a wrestling match, and sometimes less so, as when he accidentally raises a lamia during a necromancer's seance. So interesting things tend to happen around him. And not only supernatural things; in the second book he happens to be in the company of powerful Athenians and Spartans, and watches their machinations play out in his fragmented way. It's sort of a puzzle, a "why did that just happen?" type of thing, but it works because the events themselves are compelling.
Latro's character is remarkably consistent, and we (though not he) can see real growth in a few of his constant companions. I would have liked to know more about Seven Lions, the Ethiopian soldier who stays with Latro from the beginning. Perhaps he will show up again for Soldier of Sidon.
Like most of Wolfe's books, these made me want to read them again so I can pick up on everything I missed the first time through. Not easy reads, but well worth the effort.
[1] Xerxes I; the battle in question was almost certainly Plataea ("Clay"), the land equivalent of the Persians' naval defeat at Salamis some years earlier.
[2] Athens.
Gene Wolfe, Soldier of Arete
These books purport to be translations of scrolls dating from approximately 479 BC. Latro, a soldier ("latro" is a Greek word meaning "mercenary" and probably not his original name) has been hit on the head during a battle (in which he fought for the Great King[1] against the Greeks), and can no longer remember anything for more than about twelve hours. In an effort to stave off the inevitable confusion, he writes down where he's been and what he's done. The tricky part is that Latro is a non-native Greek speaker, so he translates place names into their nearest equivalent. He speaks a great deal about the city-state of "Thought[2]," for instance, and late in the first book visits the "Hot Gates" (recently featured in the classic Frank Miller music video "It's Raining 300 Men"). So, half the fun is playing "What the devil is Latro talking about now?"
The other half, of course, is the story. Latro's bonk on the head has taken away his memory, but given him the ability to see the gods and other spirits. This is sometimes helpful, as when Theseus gives him advice during a wrestling match, and sometimes less so, as when he accidentally raises a lamia during a necromancer's seance. So interesting things tend to happen around him. And not only supernatural things; in the second book he happens to be in the company of powerful Athenians and Spartans, and watches their machinations play out in his fragmented way. It's sort of a puzzle, a "why did that just happen?" type of thing, but it works because the events themselves are compelling.
Latro's character is remarkably consistent, and we (though not he) can see real growth in a few of his constant companions. I would have liked to know more about Seven Lions, the Ethiopian soldier who stays with Latro from the beginning. Perhaps he will show up again for Soldier of Sidon.
Like most of Wolfe's books, these made me want to read them again so I can pick up on everything I missed the first time through. Not easy reads, but well worth the effort.
[1] Xerxes I; the battle in question was almost certainly Plataea ("Clay"), the land equivalent of the Persians' naval defeat at Salamis some years earlier.
[2] Athens.
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